NorthEastern Emergency Debriefing Team

11/26/2018

This is a great example of how a peer led debriefing team can be so instrumental in times of need.

A Firefighter with PTSD fell into a hole and couldn’t get out. When a senior officer walked by, the Firefighter called out for help, but the senior officer yelled back, "Suck it up buttercup, and dig deep princess," and he then threw him a shovel.
The firefighter did as he was told and dug the hole deeper.
Later. one of the Fire Brigades Assistant Commissioners went by and the Firefighter called out for help again. The Assistant Commissioner told him "use the tools your Senior Officer has given you d***y", he then threw him a large bucket.
The Firefighter used the shovel and he dug the hole even deeper by filling the bucket.

A psychiatrist walked by, the Firefighter called, “For F@ Sake Help! I can’t get out!” so the psychiatrist gave him some drugs and said, "Take this. It will relieve the pain and you will forget about the hole.”
The Firefighter said "gee thanks" and followed his advice, but when the pills ran out he was still in the F@ hole.

A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the Firefighter cries for help. He stopped and asked, “How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.” So the Firefighter talked with him for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but he said he’d be back next week.
The Firefighter thanked him, but he was still in the ever increasing hole.

Later, another Firefighter, just like him, happened to be passing by. The Firefighter with PTSD cried out, “Hey, help me. I’m stuck in this F # Hole!” and right away the other Firie jumped down in there with him. The Firefighter with PTSD started to panic and said, “What the F@ are you doing?.........Now we’re both f@ stuck down here!”
The other Firie just smiled and replied........“It’s cool, calm down brother. I’ve been here before..... I know how to get out.”

* Having someone that understands is all you need to start recovering... you're never alone even though it might seem that way at times. *

Please reach out to someone if you are struggling.



Original Author Unknown & Photo by Veronique Moseley

04/24/2018

03/29/2018

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03/26/2018

Hello and welcome to our team page! We are a group of public safety professionals who provide critical incident stress debriefings to our peers throughout eight counties in northeast Wisconsin.

What is a critical incident? It is any event that has a stressful impact sufficient enough to overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of an individual. Critical incidents are abrupt, powerful events that fall outside the range of ordinary human experiences.

A debriefing is a facilitated discussion after an event that helps the participants come to terms with it, and learn from it. Hopefully, it helps to gain closure so that event will not continue to cause emotional distress.

We volunteer our time to assist our brothers and sisters, and we are honored to do so!